Some Wierd Choices! (Top 10 Books)

Member Name: Sue Hoskinson

Product:	Top 10 Books
Date:	03/10/01 (209 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: I enjoyed them all.

Disadvantages: Might keep you awake at night!

I’ve read quite a few book reviews since I’ve been a member and am always fascinated by what different people choose.

I’ve read so many books over the years that it was really difficult to come up with just 10, anyway, the list I’ve compiled contains a couple of books that are actually aimed at children – my son gave them to me to read and they’re pretty good!

Here are my choices in no particular order because I don’t feel that I could possibly pick one as my all-time favorite!

Deadly Friend by Diana Henstell. 1985

This story was originally published as ‘Friend’ and has also been made into a movie.
It’s a tragic love story with a difference. The main character is Piggy Conway who is a genius and considered weird by everyone. He falls in love with Samantha who lives next door but when she dies in an accident, Piggy vows to ‘bring her back’.

Mine to Kill by David St. Clair. 1985

This is a spooky story about Esther Cox who lived in Nova Scotia in 1878.
This is actually a true account of what is considered Canada’s #1 case of possession and exorcism. Totally amazing and freaky!

Golgotha Falls by Frank DeFelitta. 1984

Mario and Anita are researchers in the paranormal who are investigating a Catholic Church in Golgotha Falls. For 70 years the church has been plagued with weird happenings and anyone who lives there is disturbed by strange dreams.

Second Child by John Saul. 1990

A tragic story of how unloved and unwanted a child can become. Melissa lives with her father, stepmother and half-sister Teri. She is shy and a little plain. Her sister is beautiful and that’s just a fraction of Melissa’s problems.
As the story progresses, something is waiting for Melissa’s loneliness and rage to erupt.

Half Magic by Edward Eager. 1954

This is a delightful
story about a magic coin. This coin grants wishes – but the wishes aren’t exactly what you’d expect! They are only half of what is wished for so you have to wish for double and, as expected, it can cause a lot of trouble.
The book is mainly aimed at children but if you enjoyed Harry Potter then I’m sure you’d enjoy this one!

When Zachary Beaver Came To Town by Kimberly Willis Holt. 1999

This one is set during the 1960’s in a small Texas town. Zachary Beaver is billed as the fattest boy in the world.
The story is aimed at children and shows that everyone is different in some way so we shouldn’t make instant conclusions.

Darkness Comes by Dean R. Koontz. 1983

Baba Lavelle has come to New York to get rid of the Mafia stranglehold on the drug trafficking scene – he wants it for himself!
This stranger doesn’t need conventional weapons because he has something called ‘The Power’. It’s a kind of ancient magic that is extremely brutal and it thrives on darkness.
Definitely one to keep you up at night and it will have you looking over your shoulder!

The Magic Cottage by James Herbert. 1986

Herbert’s earlier stories were incredibly gruesome – remember ‘The Rats’?
This one has a good story, which isn’t on the same lines as his previous ones. Mike and Midge think they’ve found their dream house; it’s a cottage in the middle of an idyllic forest. Everything is friendly, especially the woodland creatures.
The cottage is called ‘Gramarye’ which means Good Magic and the couple’s creativeness thrives in their new home, but everything has an opposite doesn’t it?

The Bachman Books by Stephen King. 1977-1984

King using the pseudonym of Backman during the early part of his career wrote this collection of stories
There are four stories in th
e book. They are Rage, The Long Walk, Roadworks and The Running Man.
Most people know about The Running Man, which was made into a movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. It’s a futuristic story about a prisoner who has to survive the game to earn his freedom.
My personal favorite is The Long Walk. It’s an amazing story that will totally astound you. Garraty is the central character who enters the ‘race’. I’ve been unable to find out the exact length of the race by scanning the story again – sorry. What I can tell you is this, it’s a race of considerable distance – one reference is ‘forty miles to Boston’. It’s a walking race with a difference – they are not allowed to walk under four miles per hour and if they do, they get a warning to pick up the pace. If they get three warnings in an hour then the fourth warning means they’re out of the race! Sounds harmless enough doesn’t it! Except that on the fourth warning the guards that follow them in vehicles shoot them.
The walkers are not allowed to stop for anything – including sleep.

The Green Mile by Stephen King. 1996

What can be said about this story that hasn’t already been said? Nothing!
It was originally released as 6-part serial novel, each one focusing on a different character.
The characters really came to life and I could almost hear them while I read it. I was delighted with the way they portrayed John Coffey in the movie – he was exactly the way I’d pictured him!


So there you have it, that’s my choices although there are loads of others that I wanted to include but couldn’t.
I’m not really into ‘heavy novels’; most of the books I read tend to be supernatural/thrillers so I hope you’re not too disappointed at the lack of any real classics!

Thanks for reading!





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